[1][3][4] He was educated at Worth School in Sussex, and read modern history at Durham University, where he was a member of St Cuthbert's Society.

[7] In 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Burma, at first to care for her mother, but later to lead the country's pro-democracy movement.

St John's College provided Aris with an extended leave of absence as a fellow on full stipend so that he could lobby for his wife's cause.

Several countries, prominent individuals and organisations – including the United States government, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Pope John Paul II – made appeals to the Burmese authorities to issue a visa for Aris.

[8] The Burmese government however refused this request, claiming a lack of adequate healthcare facilities and instead urging Aung San Suu Kyi to leave the country to visit him.